The cuticle is a layer of clear skin located along the bottom edge of your finger or toe, and it is a thin layer of dead skin on the surface of the nail plate. It is created by the eponychium on the ventral (on underside) surface of the proximal nail fold. The cuticle is formed of sticky, non-living skin cells. The cuticles role is to protect new nails from bacteria when they grow. The cuticle is made of colorless, non-living skin cells.
Cuticle oil is a moisturizing product for your nails and cuticles, and it is commonly made up of vegetable oils and sometimes contains vitamins and citric acid. Cuticles that are exposed to excessive cold, sun, chlorine, or salty or soapy water can become chapped, cracked, and dry. In these cases of extreme dryness and damage, cuticle oil can help moisturize your cuticle and nail, restoring it to health. Applying cuticle oil can increase the circulation around your nails, stimulating nail growth. It can also help to protect your nail and cuticle against trauma. The oil can also help improve the health and appearance of your nail.
Plant cuticles are the interface between organs and the surrounding atmosphere, and most aerial plant parts such as leaves, fruits, flowers or stems are covered with a cuticle. The cuticle can be considered as a composite material made of lipophilic components, namely apolar compounds such as waxes and cutin, and hydrophilic components, namely polar compounds such as polysaccharides. The physico-chemical properties of plant cuticles have been studied to determine their functional and ecological significance.
Regarding hair, hair cuticles serve as a protective layer for the hair, and theyre composed of dead, overlapping cells. Hair cosmetics can affect the hair cuticles by reducing fiber hydrophilicity and lubricating the cuticle with positive charges.
